North Korea boasts it has become a full nuclear state after launching missile that can hit anywhere in the world…as Donald Trump says ‘we’ll handle it’

Pyongyang said the new powerful missile reached an altitude of around 2,780 miles - more than 10 times the height of the international space station - and flew 600 miles during its 53 minute flight before splashing down in the Sea of Japan

NORTH Korean despot Kim Jong-un today proudly declared his country has become a nuclear state after launching a new missile capable of hitting anywhere on earth.

After supervising the successful launch of a more powerful ICBM Hwasong-15, he boasted about his military's new might.

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A state released photo showing Kim signing papers authorising the launchCredit: AP:Associated Press

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Kim Jong-un's official orders to launch the missileCredit: AFP or licensors

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Locals cheers at Pyongyang Train Station as they hear the newsCredit: AP:Associated Press

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State news presenter Ri Chun-Hee breaks the news to the crowdsCredit: AFP or licensors

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Thousands took to the streets and were seen supporting Kim's latest outrageCredit: AFP or licensors

State television broadcast a photo of Kim's signed order where he wrote: "Test launch is approved. Taking place at the daybreak of Nov. 29! Fire with courage for the party and country!"

"Kim Jong-un declared with pride that now we have finally realised the great historic cause of completing the state nuclear force, the cause of building a rocket power," said "lady in pink" news presenter Ri Chun-Hee.

"The great success in the test-fire of ICBM Hwasong-15 is a priceless victory won by the great and heroic people of the DPRK," she added, using the official abbreviated name for North Korea."

In the statement, North Korea also described itself as a “responsible nuclear power”, saying its strategic weapons were developed to defend itself from “the US imperialists’ nuclear blackmail policy and nuclear threat”.

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The world is now apparently in Kim's sights after the latest missile launch

How big is North Korea's army and what missiles does Kim Jong-un have?

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A Hyunmoo-2 missile being launched at an undisclosed location on the east coast of South KoreaCredit: Reuters

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South Korea is keen to show it will not be bullied by the NorthCredit: Reuters

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A man walks past a TV showing a graphic of the launch at a Seoul railway stationCredit: AFP or licensors

Pyongyang said the new powerful missile - equipped with a "super-large heavy warhead" - reached an altitude of around 2,780 miles - more than TEN TIMES the height of the international space station - and flew 600 miles during its 53 minute flight.

One physicist said that the missile appeared to have a realistic range of just over 8,000 miles, which means Washington D.C. is now in range of Kim's attacks - and that Australia and Europe are too.

"If these numbers are correct, then if flown on a standard trajectory rather than this lofted trajectory, this missile would have a range of more than 13,000 kilometers (8,100 miles)," David Wright, a co-director and senior scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists, wrote on his organisation's blog.

"Such a missile would have more than enough range to reach Washington, DC, and in fact any part of the continental United States."

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South Korean army's K-55 self-propelled howitzers take position in the border city of PajuCredit: AFP

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A US Growler airborne electronic attack aircraft lands at the US Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea this morningCredit: EPA

The US President vowed to "handle the situation" after the Pentagon confirmed the rocket was an intercontinental ballistic missile.

The rocket flew for around 50 minutes, travelling some 620 miles before splashing down in the Sea of Japan.

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said North Korea's missiles can "threaten everywhere in the world".

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A graphic shows how North Korea's missile ranges have progressed over time

North Korea has launched an unidentified ballistic missile

He admitted: "It went higher frankly than any previous shots they have taken."

Experts earlier warned that if the numbers were right, the test proves Kim has missiles with a range of 8,100 miles - enough to hit anywhere in the US.

But Mattis appeared to go even further, suggesting nowhere on the planet was safe from Kim's rockets.

Despite this, North Korea has stated America is its only "target".

The hermit nation's press director said: "The DPRK's nuclear force - which targets none other than the US - is the reliable deterrent to prevent a nuclear war and firmly defend peace on the Korean peninsula by thoroughly eradicating the half-a-century-long unilateral nuclear blackmail and threat from the US."

The South Korean military announced it had responded to the launch by conducting a "precision strike" missile-firing exercise of its own.

It also moved military units to the border with its noisy neighbour.

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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said North Korea was putting peace at riskCredit: EPA

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A graphic on the South Korean news shows the missile's trajectoryCredit: AFP or licensors

Another illegal missile launch from DPRK. This is not the path to security and prosperity for the North Korean people. DPRK regime must change course

Several missiles take to the skies over North Korea in a previous test launchCredit: Reuters

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US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said the missiles could now hit 'anywhere in the world'Credit: Reuters

Video shows how far North Korea's missiles can reach across the globe

And the UN Security Council is now set to meet for an emergency session tomorrow to discuss the growing crisis at the request of the US, South Korea and Japan.

Boris Johnson tweeted: "Another illegal missile launch from DPRK.

"This is not the path to security and prosperity for the North Korean people.

"DPRK regime must change course."

Japan's PM said the launch was a "violent act" that "can never be tolerated".

By launching the missile, Shinzo Abe said North Korea had ignored the international community's "united, strong will toward a peaceful solution".

He added:"The international community needs to perfectly implement sanctions, in unison."

North Korea's missile development in 2017

February 12

North Korea conducts its first known test of a new mid-range ballistic missile it calls the Pukguksong (Polaris)-2, a land-based variant of an earlier developed submarine-launched missile. The missile uses solid fuel, which makes it easier to move and launch on short notice compared to weapons using liquid fuel.

May 14

North Korea premiers a newly developed intermediate-range missile, Hwasong-12, which it says is designed to carry a heavy nuclear warhead. The flight test is conducted at a highly lofted angle to reduce range and avoid other countries. The North says the missile traveled 787 kilometers (489 miles) and reached a maximum altitude of 2,111 kilometers (1,310 miles).

May 21

North Korea conducts another test launch of the Pukguksong-2 and later declares the missile ready for mass production and operational deployment. The missile flew about 500 kilometers (310 miles) and reached a height of 560 kilometers (350 miles) before crashing into the sea.

July 4

North Korea conducts its first flight test of an ICBM, the Hwasong-14, launching it in a highly lofted trajectory. North Korea says the supposedly nuclear-capable missile reached a height of 2,802 kilometers (1,740 miles) and flew 933 kilometers (580 miles) for 39 minutes before falling into the sea. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expresses delight at the successful test, saying that the United States would be displeased by the North's "package of gifts" delivered on the US Independence Day.

July 28

North Korea conducts its second test of the Hwasong-14 ICBM, which it says reached a maximum height of 3,725 kilometers (2,314 miles) and traveled 998 kilometers (620 miles) before accurately landing in waters off Japan. The North says the test was aimed at confirming the maximum range and other technical aspects of a missile capable of delivering a "large-sized, heavy nuclear warhead." Kim says the nighttime launch displayed the country's ability to fire at "random regions and locations at random times" with the "entire" US mainland now within range.

August 29

North Korea fires a Hwasong-12 intermediate-range missile from its capital, Pyongyang. It flew over Japan before plunging into the northern Pacific Ocean, a change from North Korea's pattern of firing missiles at highly lofted angles. South Korea's military says the missile traveled around 2,700 kilometers (1,677 miles) and reached a maximum height of 550 kilometers (341 miles). The launch came weeks after North Korea threatened to launch a salvo of Hwasong-12s that would surround Guam with "enveloping" missile fire. Kim calls the launch a "meaningful prelude" to containing Guam and called for his military to conduct more tests targeting the Pacific Ocean.

September 3

North Korea carries out its sixth and most powerful nuclear test to date, claiming it was a hydrogen bomb designed for use on ICBMs. It says the test was a "perfect success" and a further step in the development of weapons capable of striking anywhere in the United States.

September 15

North Korea fires another Hwasong-12 missile over Japan into the Pacific. The missile flies about 3,700 kilometers (2,300 miles), marking it the country's longest missile flight. Kim says his country is nearing its goal of "equilibrium" in military force with the United States.

November 29

South Korea's military said the latest missile fired from an area near Pyongyang traveled 960 kilometers (596 miles) and reached a height of 4,500 kilometers (2,796 miles). This demonstrates a potential operational range of 13,000 kilometer (8,100 miles), which would put Washington, D.C., and all other parts of the continental United States comfortably within reach, according to US analyst David Wright. North Korea later releases similar flight data for what it described as a newer and more powerful ICBM called Hwasong-15. The North says the missile could be armed with a "super-large heavy" nuclear warhead.

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The missile launch reported on Japanese mediaCredit: AP:Associated Press

North Korean TV company KRT appear to show video of the latest missile launch

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Kim examines what was claimed to be a nuclear warhead in this file imageCredit: Reuters

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson joined Abe in urging the world to take new steps to press Pyongyang to halt its nuke programme.

He said: "In addition to implementing all existing UN sanctions, the international community must take additional measures to enhance maritime security, including the right to interdict maritime traffic."

And Boris Johnson urged Pyongyang to “change course”, saying: “This is not the path to security and prosperity for the North Korean people.”

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"China expresses its grave concerns about and opposition to North Korea's missile launch activities," foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said in a press briefing.

Referring to the UN's ban on North Korea's ballistic missile activity, the spokesman said, "There are clear regulations on North Korean ballistic missile launches in United Nations Security Council resolutions."

He also said, "China wants North Korea to stop any action that escalates tension on the Korean Peninsula."
He called on "other concerned countries" to act cautiously and maintain peace and security in the regional community.

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